Official Ham install pic thread - post 'em up!

[haryv]

me personally I would keep the radios tucked away 99% of the time and keep the astetics of the vehicle looking original. To many distractions inside the truck to beging with. I dont use mine unless absolutly nessesary. I dont talk to people in general that I dont know. I have a yeau ft100d and its been sitting on my self for a year now not touched dont need it in the city and will only take it with me in the event that I am in the woods and need help otherwise it is safe inside my place free from theft.

 

[alvarorb]

Here are pics of my setup:

I also did a little write up of my installation here

Regards

Alvaro

 

[alvarorb]

Here are pics of my setup:

I also did a little write up of my installation here

Regards

Alvaro

 

[spressomon]

Here are pics of my setup:

I also did a little write up of my installation here

Regards

Alvaro

Looks good Alvaro! Is the antenna/antenna bracket fixed or can the antenna be rotated across the back of the lid to allow for garage door vertical clearance?

 

[alvarorb]

Dan,

Having to get out of the Cruiser to fold the antenna would defeat the purpose of the permanent mount. I wanted something that would go in and out of the garage. So I could use my radio at any time.
I'm getting a larger antenna for when I'm out in the middle of nowhere.

Regards

Alvaro

 

[ginericLC]

Dan,

Having to get out of the Cruiser to fold the antenna would defeat the purpose of the permanent mount. I wanted something that would go in and out of the garage. So I could use my radio at any time.
I'm getting a larger antenna for when I'm out in the middle of nowhere.

Regards

Alvaro

Alvaro,

Did you consider the electric mounts? They are spendy but I thought it would be pretty handy having it go up and down. I was thinking of wiring it to go up when the radio was turned on and when you turned it off auto down. I was also thinking of wiring it so you could manually make it go down leaving the radio on. Sort of like the later Cruisers. I'm not much into adding complicated electronic parts to my rig, but what is the worst thing that could happen? It gets stuck up or down and I'm sure in a pinch I could manually force it.

 

[alvarorb]

Eric,

That's a great idea. Maybe for the next incarnation...

Regards

Alvaro

Alvaro,

Did you consider the electric mounts? They are spendy but I thought it would be pretty handy having it go up and down. I was thinking of wiring it to go up when the radio was turned on and when you turned it off auto down. I was also thinking of wiring it so you could manually make it go down leaving the radio on. Sort of like the later Cruisers. I'm not much into adding complicated electronic parts to my rig, but what is the worst thing that could happen? It gets stuck up or down and I'm sure in a pinch I could manually force it.

 

[kb3gun]

The motorized mounts are nice. I use mine to fold it down getting in the garage.

There is a clutch system built into it so if you forget to lower it and it meets a building or a branch, it will fold back (or forward).

The thing I don't like about the way I have to mount it on the FJC is that it will only mount sideways and not front to back. If I forget to lower it and I hit something solid, it lets you know about it.

 

[bj70_guy]

I got my FT-8800 installed in my 70 today. I didn't want to get too fancy with it as it's going to be moved to another truck in a couple of months, so it's a tad booty-fab...but I think it'll be fine.
I already had the Uniden 520XL mounted to the center console, so a couple of (apparently crooked) L brackets attatched to the 520 mounts, mounted the 8800 bracket to them, then re-inforced it with a couple pieces of strapping from the mount to the console. Feels fairly solid, it's out of the way, and the controls are easily accessed.
Finished off with a Larsen dual band on the fender.
Now I just have to figure out how to use it!
(jeez I should clean that cb...it's filthy!)

 

[spressomon]

Sorry for the Nevada dust ...got the IC-208H installed last week and broke it in last weekend with the gang.

 

[450 DUDE]

That looks like some nice custom work.
Do you have a pic , close up on the face and one wide angleish on the base?
what model antenna? Comet#?

Thanks,
ken

 

[spressomon]

That looks like some nice custom work.
Do you have a pic , close up on the face and one wide angleish on the base?
what model antenna? Comet#?

Thanks,
ken

Here's the link to Icom with PDF brochure: http://www.icomamerica.com/products/amateur/208h/


The antenna is a Comet SBB2...jury's still out on the mount and antenna; I may end up going with a longer/taller antenna and installing magnet mount on the roof with zip tie to rack crossbar...but I'm going to use it for awhile to see if it will work OK as is.

Not sure what you mean by anglish on the base; I'll take some more pics tomorrow and post up. FYI: I just welded up angle iron at the top (that I screwed into my AO drawer frame) with 2 straight 'struts' welded onto the angle that the factory 208H unit bolts to.

 

[Bat Masterson]

Are you having difficulty with rx or tx with that antenna? I'm about to purchase an sbb5nmo that will sit on a k400cnmo on the rear hatch. Hoping that will do well for my needs especially clearance issues.

 

[spressomon]

Are you having difficulty with rx or tx with that antenna? I'm about to purchase an sbb5nmo that will sit on a k400cnmo on the rear hatch. Hoping that will do well for my needs especially clearance issues.

I need more time communicating with other mobile 2m. Last weekend we had 3-others with handhelds in 40's with bikini tops...I suspect the issues (poor sound quality and short distance communication (for what I have heard about 2m range anyway) was due to the fact that they were handhelds and lots of ambient wind noise from blasting along in the open 40's.

The Norcal guys that are running this combo have said they get very good performance. The other more pressing issue for me is the mount itself. We have a habit of running trails that are overgrown and I am concerned if a thick branch attacks that antenna and mount it would inpart enough force to tweak my rear hatch lip.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Dan-You may know this already, but I switch antennas all the time. For on the road, and open country I use an SBB25 for it's range and good gain characteristics. For trail use, I like the SBB1, which is rubbery and flexy so it does not hang up on terrain. Despite it's small size, it does really well.

We had amazing radio coverage this weekend at Wentworth/Rubicon. When we split the group to get the crippled rig off the trail, the two groups were still talking on simplex an hour later. It was only when we came off the trail at Loon Lake, that we had to switch to the 146.805 repeater which has great coverage of the entire area.

Tom posted our experience on the way up-He was on the Richmond-Oakland Bridge, I was in Eldorado Hills, ALvaro was in Georgetown, and Jim was in camp. We were all talking to each other, enough that Ernie heard us in Roseville and joined the conversation. I knew just after leaving town, that Jim had good sites, and there was enough room for all of us, even though I was still 2 1/2 hours out from camp.

 

[dfmorse]

Here is a link to my system;

http://homepage.mac.com/dfmorse/RigProj/page1.html

...

 

[spressomon]

Dan-You may know this already, but I switch antennas all the time. For on the road, and open country I use an SBB25 for it's range and good gain characteristics. For trail use, I like the SBB1, which is rubbery and flexy so it does not hang up on terrain. Despite it's small size, it does really well.

We had amazing radio coverage this weekend at Wentworth/Rubicon. When we split the group to get the crippled rig off the trail, the two groups were still talking on simplex an hour later. It was only when we came off the trail at Loon Lake, that we had to switch to the 146.805 repeater which has great coverage of the entire area.

Tom posted our experience on the way up-He was on the Richmond-Oakland Bridge, I was in Eldorado Hills, ALvaro was in Georgetown, and Jim was in camp. We were all talking to each other, enough that Ernie heard us in Roseville and joined the conversation. I knew just after leaving town, that Jim had good sites, and there was enough room for all of us, even though I was still 2 1/2 hours out from camp.

Thanks Andrew...now that you've jogged my memory I do remember you previously stating you ran a longer antenna when in more open trail conditions: I think I'll pick that longer antenna up and give it a try. I have a 5' Larson CB antenna on my front bumper and it has spoiled me!

Have you had any trouble on your 80 with thick branches putting torque on the lid sheetmetal or does the SBB1 effectively absorb those hits?